BUYING GUIDE
The RIVER 2 line has three models that look similar on paper: the RIVER 2 (256Wh), RIVER 2 Max (512Wh) and RIVER 2 Pro (768Wh). The right pick comes down to what you plug in and how long you need it to run.
Each step up roughly adds 256Wh of capacity and a few pounds of weight. All three recharge from a wall outlet in about an hour or a little more, so the difference is how much you carry and how much you can run, not how fast you refill.
RIVER 2 suits phones, tablets, a laptop and a small light or fan. It is the one to grab for a day trip or a short outage. It will not run a heater or kettle.
RIVER 2 Max is the middle ground. At 512Wh it can recharge a laptop several times, run a mini fridge for part of a day, or power a CPAP overnight. It is a common pick for weekend camping.
RIVER 2 Pro is for people who want real appliance power. The 800W output (1,600W with X-Boost) can handle small kitchen items such as a coffee maker or kettle, though high draw empties the battery quickly. At 768Wh a 1,000W kettle uses roughly 40 percent of the battery in about 20 minutes.
Add up the watts of what you want to run, then multiply by hours. A 60W laptop for 5 hours is 300Wh. Add a 10W router for 8 hours (80Wh) and you need about 380Wh before losses, which is the RIVER 2 Max range. Always leave 15 to 20 percent headroom because inverter losses mean you never get the full rated capacity out.
If you need to run anything above 800W for a long time, such as a space heater, a power tool or a full-size fridge plus other loads, step up to the DELTA line instead. It costs more and weighs more, but a RIVER 2 Pro is not built for sustained heavy loads.